Behavioral Health

In response to Act 303 of the 2010 Regular Session, the Opioid Treatment Program Needs Assessment Task Force was formed. The task force was charged with conducting a statewide assessment of needs for services of methadone maintenance programs (opioid treatment programs). The task force was directed to submit a report of its findings to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal joined Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain and other law enforcement officials to announce that a series of dangerous chemicals being marketed as “bath salts” or “plant food” have been added to the Controlled Dangerous Substance Act, making it illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute them in Louisiana.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal joined Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain and other law enforcement officials to announce that a series of dangerous chemicals being marketed as “bath salts” or “plant food” have been added to the Controlled Dangerous Substance Act, making it illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute them in Louisiana.

The Department of Health and Hospitals will hold a Behavioral Health Summit to address the significant mental health and addictive disorder needs arising from the BP disaster and oil spill along the Louisiana coast.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals officials are encouraging Louisiana residents to look for warning signs in young people who may be in crisis as part of Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week.

The Louisiana Commission on Addictive Disorders Report is an annual report to the governor and to the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees detailing the activities of the commission and the office for addictive disorders for the previous year and recommendations as to future programs.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is holding two fairs in Grant Parish, April 24 in Pollock and May 1 in Colfax, to educate residents, provide health screenings and administer the H1N1 vaccine to local residents.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Secretary Alan Levine today celebrated the opening of two new community-based outpatient mental health care clinics for children, adolescents and their families in the Greater New Orleans area. Levine joined local and state officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at one of the new clinics, the Midtown Clinic in New Orleans, to mark another milestone in the state’s creation of a robust, community-based mental health system statewide.